Collaboration with a statistician often plays a critical role in the success of your research. If the statistician has made a substantial intellectual or scientific contribution to your project, appropriate recognition through co-authorship on resulting publications is expected.

Co-authorship guidelines:

  • Co-authorship should be offered when the statistician’s input extends beyond routine data analysis and involves intellectual contributions, such as study design, data interpretation, or the development of new statistical methodologies.
  • If the statistician is a co-author, it is essential that they have the opportunity to review and approve the manuscript before submission.
  • Co-authorship is based on intellectual contribution and is not tied to financial compensation. It cannot be used as a form of payment, nor can financial compensation replace appropriate recognition through authorship.

Plagiarism and intellectual Integrity:

Failing to acknowledge the intellectual contributions of others, including statisticians, is a form of plagiarism. According to the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME), plagiarism is defined as:

The use of others' published and unpublished ideas or words (or other intellectual property) without attribution or permission, and presenting them as new and original rather than derived from an existing source. The intent and effect of plagiarism is to mislead the reader as to the contributions of the plagiariser.

Plagiarism is considered scientific misconduct and must be addressed accordingly. Always ensure that contributions from all collaborators, including statisticians, are properly recognized to maintain the integrity of your work.

For more information on recognising statistician's  contribution, please contact us at stathelp@imperial.ac.uk or discuss the recognition of our work during your consultation.